A YOUNG mountain biker from Wem has taken on the best of Wales and Scotland and emerged victorious.

Having won the Midlands U8 Mountain Biking Series earlier this year, Isaac Vickery's aim was to race the best U8 boys in Wales and the best U8 boys in Scotland to truly put his skills to the test.

In order to do this Isaac travelled to south west Wales and the Scottish borders to enter a Welsh national and Scottish national mountain bike race.

To make Isaac's challenge more difficult, he would have to start from the back of the grid in both races, as he had not raced in either nation before.

On August 18 Isaac raced in round three of the Welsh Cycling Mountain Biking XC Series, which took place in Llandyssul in Carmarthenshire.

On a long and tough technical course, Isaac beat the competition to take first place.

And on September 1 Isaac raced in round six of the Scottish Cross Country (SXC) Mountain Bike Series, at Glentress in the Scottish Borders.

Once again on a fast but hilly course Isaac won, beating the 30 strong grid to finish on the top step of the podium.

It's back to school for Isaac but next Sunday he starts the West Midlands Cyclo-cross U10 season with the first race being held by Mid Shropshire Wheelers at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Sunday, September 8.